NCAA Tournament 2012: Potentially Classic Matchups in Round of 32

Many call the first two days of the NCAA tournament the best two days in sports. I would agree with that label, but if things fall into place, the first two days could be setting up an even better weekend of college hoops.

Some of the possible matchups are exciting.

Here are three potentially classic matchups on the horizon, should the required teams survive their second-round games:

West Region: No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 7 Florida

The Tigers must defeat No. 15 Norfolk State, which should be easy, and the Gators must get past No. 10 Virginia, which isn't quite as simple.

If the two teams pass the test, we'll have a nice one in the Round of 32.

This matchup would feature two high-scoring backcourts and two bruising inside presences.

Both teams are a little undersized, but they play tough, pressuring defense with more than enough outside shooting threats.

Missouri's Marcus Denmon and Kim English are big-time bombers from deep, and they play a high-octane brand of basketball.

Both players shoot over 40 percent from beyond the arc and have shown the ability to knock down big shots.

The Gators are also led by their backcourt. Freshman Brad Beal and leading scorer Kenny Boynton are the Gators' go-to guys. Together they average 31 points per game, and Beal leads the team in rebounding from the guard spot.

Quality perimeter play aside, the deciding factor in their potential contest will come in the paint.

Missouri's Ricardo Ratliffe has made a habit of playing tough inside matchups very well. In the Big 12 title game he did a solid job against Baylor's Perry Jones III as the Tigers won. In a February 25 win over Kansas, Ratliffe had 22 points and 12 rebounds against Thomas Robinson.

He will have to contend with Florida's Patric Young. Young looks like he should be playing TE for the Gators on Saturdays.

He has averaged 10 points and six rebounds this year, but he's only a sophomore and still developing. Ratliffe is a senior, and the overall experience edge the Tigers hold would push them through.

The Gators have only one senior on their roster, while the Tigers have seven. Mizzou would win a great game.

South Region: No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Notre Dame

This is another solid potential No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup. This one would be a slight surprise for me, as I have Xavier knocking off Notre Dame in the second round.

Duke has the look of a No. 2 seed that could be upended, but I believe it beats Lehigh.

If Duke and Notre Dame do clash, this will be a nice matchup. It's not just because you have two major institutions, it's also because of the styles of play.

The Irish play awesome defense. They allow only 61.5 points per game, and they defend the three-point shot very well. Opponents are only shooting 24 percent against them from distance.

Of course we know, Duke depends on the three a great deal.

The Blue Devils have taken 713 threes this year, connecting on 37.6 percent of them. Something will have to give. 

The Irish would have to continue their solid perimeter defense and create second-chance buckets for themselves.

Duke struggles to control the defensive glass; they clear after a stop only 68 percent of the time. That is only 186th in the nation, and it's an area Notre Dame could attack.

It won't be easy as Duke has the athletic and active Plumlee brothers who can be a force when they are in the flow.

This would be another great game. If it happens, my pick would be Notre Dame in an upset.

South Region: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 9 UConn

At the beginning of the season if you told someone this was your pick for the national championship game, no one would have batted an eye. Now, it can't happen as UConn has struggled in spots this year and barely made the field as a bubble team.

That said, don't sleep on the talent of the Huskies. Also don't underestimate the impact having Jim Calhoun on the sidelines helps this team either.

They are the defending champions, and have at least three future NBA players on the roster. When they are right, they play sound defense and feature explosive athletes in Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond and Ryan Boatright.

We know about Kentucky: the consensus No. 1, and its roster has as many, if not more, future pros. If the Wildcats get in transition, this game is over.

Player of the Year candidate Anthony Davis leads the nation with 4.6 blocks per game, and he leads the team in scoring and rebounding.

His head-to-head matchup with Drummond in the middle will be worth the price of admission on its own.

If UConn is to pull an upset here, it must get a huge game from Drummond. He needs to force a double-double or get Davis into foul trouble. If he can make that presence felt in the middle, it will open up the floor for Shabazz Napier and the Huskies' other perimeter players.

Despite the seeding differences, this would be a matchup of two of the nation's most talented teams. I would pick Kentucky but, honestly speaking, not with a ton of confidence.